Chapter Excerpt

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7 September:

Truman assembled the Joint Chiefs, Brynes, McCloy, Stimson, Groves,

and a few others to discuss the situations in both theaters in a morning meeting.

"So gentlemen, where are we in the Pacific?"

Marshall responded for the military, "Nimitz and that other fellow have their respective forces in final preparation for invading Kyushu on schedule. Everything we can throw at them to aid in successful assaults is being employed. Hopefully the weather will prevail better than for Normandy."

"Is that including an atomic bomb?" asked Truman.

"Mr. President, we are planning on using several at various times during the invasion."

McCloy looked surprised and asked, "When you say 'several', I am presuming that means more than a couple?"

"Several would include using six to nine atomic bombs."

"Nine...bombs. Mr. President, I must implore you to reconsider this action by the Joint Chiefs. A few months ago we were only talking about one, then we dropped a second, and now they want to drop nine more. This escalation in devastation will not be accepted by any of the civilized nations."

"What civilized nations?" injected Brynes. "Do you see anybody else lining-up to fight on Japanese soil? It's us and nobody else. Only the British are prepared and willing to help. Do you think you can convince the Marines or Army infantries out there that they should attack Kyushu without any atomic bombs? No, you won't. They have to fight, you don't."

Truman sensed that his friend was too hard on the shocked McCloy, but he had to clear the air once and for all. "Mr. McCloy, we all understand your intent in this matter and respect your conscious thought. These men here have submitted battle estimates of a million casualties of our American boys. Those estimates are derived from actual data unfortunately gained through death and wounded. If any of you can show me how to do this with reduced casualties, please do so now. We have no more time to banter this issue. I would like someone to advise me how many casualties are acceptable for invasion. Gentlemen, I have taken your advice and made a decision, a decision that none of you had to worry about. Since then, what has changed? The Japanese are still occupying vast foreign territories and subjecting the people to unspeakable conditions. They haven't quit, have they? They have rejected every possible contact we have tried. Sure, we heard that they secretly are seeking a peaceful solution. But we are also hearing significantly more that they are going to fight to the bitter end. What are we to believe? If their leaders cannot determine for themselves that they want peace and not war, then they are still resolved to war until someone changes their minds. After all these years of constant fighting and lost sons on Pacific soil, I cannot rollover and let them off the hook because they haven't the guts to tell the world they want peace. The decision stands and we will use everything we can to help our fighting sons."

The President has spoken and those about heard it. Marshall could not think of a better time to bring up an equally dangerous topic, especially to those who knew little or nothing about it. "Mr. President, gentlemen, the use of atomic weapons has been discussed several times. However at this time we must also consider using another equally...encompassing weapon for use so fanatical an enemy. I am speaking of chemical and germ warfare weapons." He observed most squirming in their seat and a few with wondering expressions. "We must discuss this now for timely deployment."

Leahy stated in clear tone, "I have expressed abhorrence to our presidents and military advisors in the use of chemical and germ warfare, especially those without an antidote. It is against every ethical, military, and religious concept I have every known, and I told that to the President on the BALTIMORE in 1944. If we use it first, the Japs can morally use theirs against us. The President advised a retaliation policy early in the war in which if Germany or Japan used theirs, we would use ours."

"Do we have these weapons...to use?" asked McCloy looking about the table for someone to enlighten him.

Marshall replied, "Let me summarize the situation. Because the Germans or Japanese would possibly use them against the allies, our efforts began formally in July 1941. One could say that this project went along a parallel path as MANHATTAN, but not as sequestered or secret. The initial meeting in July with the Surgeon General, Army intelligence, and chemical warfare staffs soon expanded to include the Navy, the National Academy of Sciences, and a few federal agencies. Secretary Stimson established a Committee on Biological Warfare with American experts in animal, human, and plant pathology," as he looked to Stimson, who nodded in approval. "They were to investigate the potential for biological and chemical warfare when the United States entered either theater. The Army's Chemical Warfare Service created at Edgewood Arsenal a biological research unit, being the Medical Research Division. They also interacted with the British and Canadians, who were already in small-scale production of some.

"Although set-up for offensive use in retaliation from those used by the Axis, their efforts soon focused on detecting and defensive operations. Contracts were given to about 25 foundations and universities for research into this warfare. John P. Marquand, the novelist of all people, was appointed the division's director of intelligence and information. Well, he did all right, as very little information was ever released, yet developments progressed to where in April 1943 the Army began construction for a biological research center at Detrick Field near Frederick, Maryland. There the Army and Navy biological effort progressed rapidly into two test facilities and full-scale production plant. Right now there are about 4,000 personnel, mostly military and some civilian. The civilians had to sign a consent form, should something happen to them, that would seal all evidence and details."

Groves, being too occupied with his project to consider any biological or chemical weapons, was impressed to ask, "They are operating at full production?"